Chattco Spring Sports Are In Season
by Vinisha Kalra

The fourth year of Chattahoochee County soccer began with a lot of hard work from the team and coach Sandi Veliz. “I’m very excited for this season,” says Veliz. “This is the most talented group we’ve had.  I expect us to get better as the season goes and just do our best. We’re in a brand new region this year, which represents us with more experiences and challenges. I’m very happy for the seniors that have played soccer since this program started, Victoria Lewis and Ashley Breland.”

The team consists of five seniors, one junior, six sophomores and five freshmen. The seniors are: Breland, Lewis, Samantha Mitchell, Alicia Perez and Lauren Whitehurst. The junior is Katelin Roberson while the sophomores are Chelsea Coleman, Anna Dueñas, Raquel Hernandez, Sheila Mitchell, Andrea Murray and Taylor Newberry. The freshmen include Paola Delarosa, Bobbie Kizer, Lisandra Ortiz, Aubrey Parker and Hailey Shillig.

Lewis, team captain, says, “I am super-excited for my senior year in soccer. I’ve played since my freshman year, which was the first year we had soccer at Chattco. I’m confident that our team will do very well this year as we have improved a lot since the first year. Everyone has been working so hard, and I’m really proud of them. I’m happy to see that we have come this far and grew so much every year. I’m looking forward to my last season with this group of girls.”

Breland says, “I think this season is going to be really good because we have progressed so much since my freshman year. We kept having new talent like we do this year. I really think we’ll go far as a team. As a senior, this year is really important for me. I want to accomplish a lot this year, not only as an individual but also as a team. I hope my personal game is at its best.”

Coleman, the 2010 All-Region goalie, says, “This is the best team we’ve ever had. I think we’re going to do really well this year and we have a lot of potential. I enjoy playing soccer and look forward to this season.”

The Chattahoochee County boys soccer team is also off to a good start with coach Cesar Veliz.

“Our goal, of course, is to win,” says team captain Daniel Reinwald.  We want to do our best. We’re giving it 100 percent. I want the whole team to have fun and still work hard. This is my second year being captain. I’m looking forward to it. We have good talent on the team.”

Franky Lira, second team captain, says, “I think we’re going to have a winning season. I believe we’re going to break records. My goal is to be a really good defender. I think we have great stamina and discipline. We are a well-rounded team.”

Gabe Gonzales says, “I expect the boys to do their best and give it all they’ve got. I believe this season is going to be great! Coach Veliz is a great coach. He shows us ways for improving our skills. I think we’re all working hard and preparing ourselves for a great season. I look forward to our first game.”

Chris Reyes says, “My goal is to do my best and improve. We’re all working hard and all of us have great attitudes. I think we’ll have a wonderful season.”

The 2011 Chattahoochee County baseball team has three returning players, David Cochran III, Mike McCarthy and Jonathon Powell, along with young, new talent.

The team also rosters Ethan Pate, Chris Askew, Mike McCarthy, Caleb Ortiz, Jeff Culpepper, Michael Leyba, Michael Powell, Keith Thornton, Marquis Thornton, Javaris Jones, Jamaris Jones and Willie Sistrunk.  

McCarthy says, “I think this season’s going to go great because we have a lot of new talent and potential. We’re going to work hard and give it 110 percnet in our games and practices. Our goal is to be first in our sub-region.”

Powell adds, “My goal for this year for the team is to work hard and make it to the playoffs. We have a young team with positive attitudes. I think we’re all going to come together and win as many games as we can.” Powell’s message for his team is to “just play baseball and have fun.”

Cochran says, “My goal is to compete for region and win. I hope we make a good run to state. We will all come together and play well.”

The team is coached by head coach Danny Burgamy and assistant coaches David Cochran Jr. and Wayne Johnson.

“The players are working hard,” Burgamy says. “If they maintain the great attitude and work ethic, we will have a chance at playoffs. My goal for this year is to make the team competitive. We should never give up and win as much as possible. I think we have a group of players that are willing to do what it takes.”

Panthers Basketball Season Underway
by Vinisha Kalra, sophomore

Chattahoochee County High School’s girls and boys basketball teams are ready to hit the court! With the new season comes new leadership from girls coach Gina Cochran and boys coach Kalvin Baker.

Girls team captain Akeyvya Jones says, “Girls, just come out and do good. I expect a 100 percent from everyone, including everyone.” Jones is a senior who has been playing since sixth grade. She admires Candice Parker because Parker is a player that works very hard and never gives up. “Basketball has helped me with my discipline along with my leadership abilities. I love working together with my team,” says Jones.

Tykolyah Chester, the girls team second captain, adds “I want great effort from everyone.  I want to go hard my final year.” Chester, also a senior, plans to go to Columbus Tech and become a hygienist.

The girls team consists of freshmen Jaszmone Harris, Nakisha Williams and Aaliyah Tweed; sophomore Latrese Hubbard; juniors Khadijah Embry and Kuanisha Jones; and seniors KaMara Riley, Chester and Jones.

“I want great effort, great attitudes and a great work ethic from the girls. Also, there should be great team chemistry,” says Coach Cochran. Cochran is assisted by coaches Jay Jones and Beverley Riley.

The varsity boys team includes sophomores Javaris Jones, Jamaris Jones, Willie Sistrunk and Luther Lee; junior Marquis Thornton; and seniors Keith Thornton, Marcus Dixon, DeMarcus Jones, Ezra Williams, Willie Mines, Jacorey Jones, David Cochran and Brandin Jones.

The JV boys team includes eighth-grader Keyshawn Baker; freshmen Greg Lee, Javon Jones and Chris Askew; sophomores Javaris Jones and Jamaris Jones; and junior Montavious Williams.

Both teams are working hard and looking forward to the season. “I am expecting us to have a wonderful season,” says Thornton, varsity boys small forward. Assistant coach Jimmy Habersham adds, “We expect to win regions and state.”

Jacorey Jones, point and shoot guard, says, “We’ll all come together and play as a team and be a family.” Guard David Cochran adds, “We want to compete for regions, make it to playoffs, and have a successful season.”

Chattco Welcomes New Head Football Coach

Chattahoochee County High School has a new head football coach for the first time since establishing the varsity program four years ago. Shaun Pope is the new leader of the gridiron Panthers and he is excited about it.

“I was looking for a head coaching job, but I didn’t want to take a job just anywhere just because I could be the head coach,” says Pope. “I wanted to be at a place where they have something to build on and where I felt there was a good chance of winning.”

Pope noted that the Panthers made the playoffs in each of its first four seasons.  Their combined record stands at 29-16.

“There was already a winning attitude here and obviously, by looking at their wins and losses, you can see that there have been a lot of good things going on,” he says. “I want to build on that.”

CCHS principal James Sims describes Pope as a “no-nonsense straight shooter who, most importantly, really cares about the kids he coaches.” That factor, along with his 10 years of experience as a coach, is what pushed Pope to the top of the pool of applicants when former coach Josh Kemp decided to step away from the position.

“We had a lot of candidates to choose from, but the fact that he has a big heart for the kids like Josh did was very important to us,” says Sims.

“I’m a big ‘team guy’,” says Pope. “I want the whole team working together and not just during the season. I want the starting quarterback and the water boy working hard side-by-side from one season to the next.”

Pope believes they are making progress toward team unity, as 25 to 30 players consistently attended the summer workouts and practices. He’s hoping the dedication shown by that group of players will rub off on everyone else.

Pope comes to CCHS from East Laurens in Dublin, Georgia, where he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. When he arrived in Dublin, approximately 15 athletes were showing up for summer workouts but by his third and final year, they had around 98 percent attendance.

The football team competed in tough Region 3-AA and posted a 12-19 record in the three years Pope was there, but he says they definitely made a lot of progress and built a strong foundation.

“We saw some drastic changes in the time that I was there,” he says.

Pope also led the East Laurens weight training program to a Class AA state weightlifting championship.

Coach Pope established his weight training program while he was head football coach at Montgomery County in 2006. He says he took a lot of his program elements from Buzz Busby, a well-known and successful football coach.

So far, Pope has been impressed with the core group of players. Among them are: senior quarterback David Cochran, senior fullback/defensive tackle Eric Ziegler, Keith Thornton, junior running back/linebacker Marquis Thornton, freshman running back/defensive back Chris Askew, senior lineman/linebacker D.J. White, senior wide receiver/defensive back Birdie Jones and senior running back/defensive lineman Jerome McDow.

Once the Friday night lights are turned on this fall, Pope wants the team to improve each week and play its best football by the 10th week of the season.

“I want us to show improvement each week and give ourselves a chance to get into the playoffs every year,” Pope says. “Of course, like every other football coach, I want us to win the region and state championships. But if we focus on the small picture and take care of that from week to week, then everything else will fall into place.”

Aside from wins and losses, Pope’s goal is to show a strong commitment to the players and help them to become better people on and off the field.
“I want them to treat people well and to have respect,” Pope says. “I know for a fact that you can win football games with good people.”

Pope’s staff includes offensive coordinator David Cochran, defensive coordinator Mike McManus and quarterbacks coach Wayne Johnson, a former University of Georgia quarterback.